South Korea's president apologizes over speech scandal

South Korea’s President Park Geun-hye publicly apologized Tuesday after local media reported some of her key speeches were informally edited by her former assistant.

The apology came a day after the JTBC TV network said that Choi Soon-sil received dozens of speeches before Park delivered them.

Choi, the daughter of Park's mentor Choi Tae-min and the former wife of Park's former secretary Chung Yun-hoi, has no government job and might have meddled in state affairs, local media reported.

She also might have used her presidential connections to push companies to contribute financially to the establishment of non-profit foundations, according to media reports.

"Regardless of the reasons involved, I am sorry that (the scandal) has caused national concerns. I deeply apologize to the people,” Park said, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency.

She said Choi helped her prepare for speeches during her campaign to be elected president and the early part of her presidency. Park, South Korea’s first female leader, was sworn in February 2013.

"During the last presidential election campaign, she (Choi) has offered me personal comments about my campaign activities, mostly speeches and publicity efforts," Park said, according to Yonhap.

"For some period of time after my inauguration, I had asked for her opinion over some materials, but after the secretarial staff at Cheong Wa Dae (the president’s office) was fully established, I stopped (asking for her help),” she added.